LUKE 4:14-30 AS HIS CUSTOM WAS Why would the One who had spoken the first words heard on earth, "Let there be light," and maintains all things by the word of His power, attend a synagogue and listen to what men had to say about God? What human principle was the Son of Man adapting to in going regularly "as His custom was" to participate in the gathering of people and listen to what He already knew? As the perfect man in His perfect manliness He knew the need of fellowship with other people in spiritual things. That is a fundamental need of humanity. We need to be able to share those hidden things with others and draw on their spiritual experiences in order to have a balance in our lives. It is true our limitations in expression, knowledge and understanding keep us from comprehending much of what God has said in His Word. Drawing from the thoughts of others opens new areas of thought in us that ultimately leads to "worship in Spirit and in truth."
There must have been something about the Man, Christ Jesus that made people recognize a Person of unusual ability and intelligence was among them. It had been His custom to "not forsake the assembling of yourselves together." The consistency of Jesus in His attendance at the synagogue would have given Him the right to participate publicly. We may not gather a lot of new information each time we meet with God's people. We may not even realize the value of getting "here a little, there a little," but the very fact of being with the people of God, and part of the spiritual activity of the assembly, does us more good than we think. The objective of the gathering together is the growth and full maturity of the saints.
Israel had not yet come into the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding their nation. They had been freed from Babylonian bondage but were still a conquered nation under the iron shoe of Rome. The proclamation of the Lord Jesus that the time of liberation had come was misunderstood. This public declaration of Himself as the Messiah was not taken well by His own people. "He came unto His own, but His own received Him not." His explanation of the passage in Isaiah 61 when all debts would be cancelled and those in bondage were freed, was not grasped by those who knew Him best.
The preservation of the truth of God, whether it be a Gospel message or the unfolding of doctrinal truth, is often resented by those who know us well. Family members are often resentful of those who preach God's truth thinking there is some kind of self-exaltation in doing this. It would be wrong to abandon the custom of attending the place we know God's Word is respected, taught and carried out. People around may know us well including our mistakes in the past and our quirks in life that may bother them. Still we must continue as is our custom to present God's Word, pray together, study the scriptures together and patiently wait for the Lord to do His work in us and through us.
The people of Nazareth were very angry when the Lord Jesus spoke about God accepting Gentiles by His grace and Israelis who would not obey the Lord and give Him the place of authority, were rejected. At times there still is the attitude that God is favoring us over the "heathen, pagan people in other parts of the world." Heathenism and paganism are as prevalent here as in many other places. When people turn away from God, His word and His will, heathenism is the result. The paganistic practices of worshipping "other gods" goes on here every day. Materialism, pleasure, money, fame and many other pursuits now have taken the place of the worship of God and the custom of meeting together to hear the Word of God explained and share in common our life in Christ with other people. When that happens, other places and people will experience the blessings of a divine "day of visitation" from God. God is in control and is going to complete His Church through those He calls from all parts of the earth.
There is a custom that seems to be fading away, That gave strength to God's people in the past. The gathering of saints to read the Bible and pray, Had an impact on people that would last. To sing together and hear God's Word preached Gave strength and power to those who came To the gathering center where each one reached And clasped hands in fellowship in Jesus' name.
Not everything we repeatedly do Has a consequence on us for our good. But the custom of coming to hear what is true Really in essence is our spiritual food. In those places and at those times There is a visible display of grace. When the light of God on the pages of truth shines The result is the strengthening of faith.
The custom of gathering in Jesus' name Should never be abandoned nor forsaken. There are those times when anxious spirits are tamed And we can truly say, "I my cross have taken." The final outcome of such a gathering Is God's people go home, greatly uplifted. We have been blessed even when there is sifting, By those who through the Holy Spirit are gifted.
"This custom of gathering together with Thy people, Father, has been ingrained in me. I know even some in my family think I am extreme in this but I figure if the Lord Jesus met with people He knew inside out, then I should be able to be blessed by people who are just like me. I thank Thee for Thy people and their faithfulness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."